Nazem Kadri had quite the season in 2021-22 for the Colorado Avalanche. A career-high in points (87). Two huge overtime goals in the playoffs, including in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay despite a broken thumb. A hat-trick performance in Game 4 of the first round against St. Louis, despite dealing with racist abuse following an incidental collision with goalie Jordan Binnington. 

All of which was capped off with his lifting the Stanley Cup over his head for the first time with the Avalanche.

And, he did it all in a contract year. On Wednesday, he can become an unrestricted free agent. Talk about good timing.

If Kadri goes to market, he will have plenty of suitors. Can the Avalanche persuade him to come back? Time is running short. But let’s take a look at our own NHL futures market for the 31-year-old center: 

Nazem Kadri Next Team Odds

Odds are projected by our Bookies.com NHL handicapper and do not reflect odds that may be available on legal betting sites and betting apps. They are for entertainment purposes.
 

Detroit Red Wings (+150)

There are a couple of things in the Red Wings’ favor in terms of NHL betting markets should they make a big offer to Kadri.

For one, Kadri grew up in London, Ontario, which is about a two-hour drive from Detroit. For another, the Red Wings have a lot of money to spend under the salary cap - about $30 million as of Sunday.

Kadri told reporters, after the Avs won the Cup, “I think I’ve proven my worth”, and that is expected to be at least $7 million per season, maybe $8 million. Perhaps even more.

Kadri will face some skepticism he can keep up the kind of production he enjoyed as part of a star-studded Avalanche team, with a team like the Red Wings. But Kadri no doubt has great respect for Wings GM Steve Yzerman, and there are some nice young pieces in place in Detroit for the future. They also went out and got a good goalie in Ville Husso.

Yzerman has the money to overpay a little on a guy like Kadri. Kadri would be going back close to home, to an Original Six team that could well be on the rise back to the playoffs after several dormant years.

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Ottawa Senators (+300)

Here is another team and city not too far from where Kadri has spent much of his life - and a team with a lot of money to spend.

Ottawa is about $18 million under the cap, so the money would be there to make Kadri a big, long-term offer. While the Senators are still among the lower half of teams in the league, they also have some good young players.

Kadri would get top-line minutes on a team like Ottawa and be a featured attraction to fans. It could be a nice fit.
 

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Colorado Avalanche (+500)

As of this weekend, the Avalanche had quite a lot of money to spend under the cap - about $25 million. The problem is, the defending Cup champs have some other free agents they want to re-sign, including guys such as Valeri Nichushkin and Josh Manson, and maybe Andre Burakovsky. 

Plus, they have to re-sign restricted free agent Artturi Lehkonen and new goalie Alexandar Georgiev to new deals. 

While it is believed the Avs would like to get Kadri back, they just may not be able to match other long-term, big-money offers from rival teams. In the end, it almost always comes down to getting the most money on the longest deal. 

Kadri has all the leverage in the world now, and this is likely his last, best chance at a huge contract. The Avs obviously can offer a nice salary to Kadri, and it will be a powerhouse team moving forward. That’s nothing to sneeze at and these NHL odds at +500 reflect the fact it's still possible he returns. 

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New York Rangers (+800)

New York is always a tempting place for free agents, with all the city has to offer. It is also a good team, with some decent room under the cap. It would be a tight squeeze and they might have to move out some other salary, but the Rangers probably could give Kadri something close to $8 million per year. 

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